Success StoryMaster Gardener volunteer is vital resource to neighborhood after grocery store closes



Master Gardener volunteer is vital resource to neighborhood after grocery store closes

Author: Stephen Lewis

Planning Unit: Jefferson County CES

Major Program: Master Gardener

Plan of Work: Accessing healthy foods & improving local food systems

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Master Gardener Judy Buckler is volunteering with The Cabbage Patch Settlement House,  a nonprofit community center that provides educational and recreational programs to at-risk youth, both after-school programs and summer programs as well as family services for
their parents. The program sees about 1500 children a year. For twenty years she has been involved with the Seed to Table Program, which teaches children to cook healthy meals in the fall and winter, and gardening in the spring and summer.  The cooking classes are in high demand, and there are 2-3 sessions each year for 12 children each session. They prepare, cook, share and clean up after each session.  All recipes use fresh ingredients, some of which are from the garden.

The garden classes are held in the outdoor garden of four raised beds. The children learn to plant transplants and seeds for blueberries, strawberries, cabbage, kale, green beans, radishes, broccoli, collards, onions, pepper, cucumbers, squash, corn, herbs and watermelon.  They maintain, fertilize, weed and water every weekly meeting.  The harvest, which they have picked, is shared among all the children participating that week. After the work is done they count and record the harvest, and have a healthy snack to share while having an educational gardening program.  The healthy snack will often include something harvested from the garden, from strawberries to pizza from the garden, to fresh cooked green beans and watermelon.

The garden program has been a huge help since the only grocery store in the area closed last spring. 90 percent of the children involved receive free or reduced lunch. Over the past year the program has connected with 150 children. The garden educational classes have had such a positive impact that the Courier Journal wrote an article about it. 

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/food/2017/05/16/youth-gardening-program-increasingly-needed-grocery-stores-close/322698001/








Stories by Stephen Lewis


Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club

Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club

about 6 years ago by Stephen Lewis

The Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club is in its second year. The previous year (2017) Ken... Read More


Science class at Kuumba Youth academy

Science class at Kuumba Youth academy

about 6 years ago by Stephen Lewis

Kuumba Youth Liberation Academy (KYLA) is a Afrikan-Centered homeschool platform, located in Louisvi... Read More


Stories by Jefferson County CES


Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club

Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club

about 6 years ago by Stephen Lewis

The Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club is in its second year. The previous year (2017) Ken... Read More


Science class at Kuumba Youth academy

Science class at Kuumba Youth academy

about 6 years ago by Stephen Lewis

Kuumba Youth Liberation Academy (KYLA) is a Afrikan-Centered homeschool platform, located in Louisvi... Read More


Stories by Master Gardener


Master Gardener Class

Master Gardener Class

about 6 years ago by Nicole Rhein

The 2016 Marshall County Master Gardener class was intended to refine and reshape the current Master... Read More


Junior Master Gardener/Learn Grow Eat Go! McCracken Couny Agents Pilot Program

Junior Master Gardener/Learn Grow Eat Go! McCracken Couny Agents Pilot Program

about 6 years ago by Kathryn Wimberley

Situation : In Kentucky, at least one out of every three adults (34.2%) and children (37.1%) are ove... Read More